"My tl;dr here is to have no reservations about using either Poulin or Legare in a package to improve the current product. "

Yeah, let's do that RW so they can lose AGAIN in the first round with this aging core!
- stevens87

Agreed. It’s best to hang on to the dime a dozen prospects instead of taking advantage of a potential overvaluation on the market.

After 2009, with Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Letang, and MAF all in their early primes, no one would have expected it would take them another 7 years to get back to the Finals.
- jmatchett383

Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Staal all moving beyond ELC, completely changed the dynamic of team construction under a cap, and we all saw that coming. Babcock mentioned that after the cup it would be harder to ice a Cup team

Even so, that roster had a lot of band-aids, especially on wing.

Agreed. It’s best to hang on to the dime a dozen prospects instead of taking advantage of a potential overvaluation on the market.
- Feds91Stammer

Also, what does he expect to get for these guys? He said that "if I’m honest their offensive output wasn’t encouraging." Well, if it is not encouraging for RW, I'm sure an NHL team will think the same. So how much can you expect in return?

Go with some youth. It helped in 2016 when players like Rust, Sherry, Wilson came up and put a spark in the team.

- Feds91Stammer

No weed today, Feds, yet anyway...if at all later it would have to be a wakey wakey strain...

Also, what does he expect to get for these guys? He said that "if I’m honest their offensive output wasn’t encouraging." Well, if it is not encouraging for RW, I'm sure an NHL team will think the same. So how much can you expect in return?

Go with some youth. It helped in 2016 when players like Rust, Sherry, Wilson came up and put a spark in the team.
- stevens87

You package them with other assets and there are a lot of dumb GMs

You package them with other assets and there are a lot of dumb GMs
- Feds91Stammer

Should be calling the Oilers, right?

So can we officially say your new whipping boy is Marino?
- Rinosaur

I don't think so at all. I like him overall but I just think a lot of Pens fans are thinking he is going to be the heir apparent to Letang. He is a solid all around player but realistically speaking, he has struggled when he hasn't been sheltered.

I'd love to keep him for the bottom pair RD but the Pens are cash strapped and if he has as much value around the league as everyone seems to think, I'd cash out my chips now.

Didn't like the Poulin pick from the beginning. McMichael, Tomasino and Pelletier were still there but GMJR decided to go for the bigger forwards in this draft.

Both of 'em for Timo Meier.

How do you get to this? What's the thought process?

I would obviously love for you to be right but from what I've seen of both you're majorly on the optimistic side for them.

I wonder if them probably being the top 2 Pens prospects gives an illusion of them being top prospects over all...
- MattStrat

I'm not sure giving them a 50/50 shot at ever making the NHL is overly optimistic...

In the playoffs this year Legare had 14 G in 15 games and Poulin had 11G in 15 games. Thats not bad production. Legare is an excellent shooter, Poulin plays a great 2 way game but both need to improve their skating.

Didn't like the Poulin pick from the beginning. McMichael, Tomasino and Pelletier were still there but GMJR decided to go for the bigger forwards in this draft.
- sjfpp

Yeah, pretty sure he was projected as a mid second rounder and there were still some pretty decent players on the board when he took him.

Yes, I'm sure that would go over with your captain and face of the franchise:

"Hey Sid, great job winning your second straight Conn Smythe and leading us to back-to-back Cups. So hey, now that you're on the tail end of your prime, we're going to gut this team so we can maybe try to win in your mid-to-late thirties. All right, have a great day, and thanks again!"

I imagine people would just be lining up to have that conversation.
- jmatchett383

Maybe that’s why it didn’t work

Bill Belichick didn’t consult Tom Brady before he’d cut or trade an aging star before their decline. Better a year early than a year late was hit motto and it paid off in spades

20 year dynasty and 6 champions proves it may be a better method than placating your superstar over the good of the team long term

I'm not sure giving them a 50/50 shot at ever making the NHL is overly optimistic...

In the playoffs this year Legare had 14 G in 15 games and Poulin had 11G in 15 games. Thats not bad production. Legare is an excellent shooter, Poulin plays a great 2 way game but both need to improve their skating.
- MacPatty

In the Q, as overagers, that is terrible.

Maybe that’s why it didn’t work

Bill Belichick didn’t consult Tom Brady before he’d cut or trade an aging star before their decline. Better a year early than a year late was hit motto and it paid off in spades

20 year dynasty and 6 champions proves it may be a better method than placating your superstar over the good of the team long term
- TheGame316

Patriots dynasty had way more to do with Tom Brady being the best QB in the history of the NFL than it did with Belicheck cutting aging stars.

In the Q, as overagers, that is terrible.
- j.boyd919

Even worse considering his age and how long he's been in the Q.

It seems that Pittsburgh has mortgaged a lot of there future In recent seasons to try to acquire the player that gets them to the Finals. As a Wild fan we are very happy with Calen Addison so far, Hope the Pens are happy with Jason Zucker.

Normally I would say you're all nuts with these pie in the sky trade scenarios, but then I remembered that the Oilers just traded for Duncan Keith with no salary retained......

Blueger re-signs 2 year deal 2.2 million per

Blueger re-signs 2 year deal 2.2 million per
- Reverend Killtaker

Nice bridge for Teddy B.

It seems that Pittsburgh has mortgaged a lot of there future In recent seasons to try to acquire the player that gets them to the Finals. As a Wild fan we are very happy with Calen Addison so far, Hope the Pens are happy with Jason Zucker.
- Shady1962

Don't think many Pens fans are happy with Zucker. His chemistry with Geno is in the negatives and Sully refuses to play him with Sid, even though his playstyle seems like it would mesh better with Sid.

It seems that Pittsburgh has mortgaged a lot of there future In recent seasons to try to acquire the player that gets them to the Finals. As a Wild fan we are very happy with Calen Addison so far, Hope the Pens are happy with Jason Zucker.
- Shady1962

Cool.

It seems that Pittsburgh has mortgaged a lot of there future In recent seasons to try to acquire the player that gets them to the Finals. As a Wild fan we are very happy with Calen Addison so far, Hope the Pens are happy with Jason Zucker.
- Shady1962

Blueger re-signs 2 year deal 2.2 million per
- Reverend Killtaker

$500K less than I expected.

I wonder if Bluegs is getting protected now? Seems like a fair deal for both parties.

I'm not sure giving them a 50/50 shot at ever making the NHL is overly optimistic...

In the playoffs this year Legare had 14 G in 15 games and Poulin had 11G in 15 games. Thats not bad production. Legare is an excellent shooter, Poulin plays a great 2 way game but both need to improve their skating.
- MacPatty

Oh I thought you said 50/50 chance of being a middle 6 contributer...